Saturday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
Cleveland Browns
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Friday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
Cleveland Browns
Jacksonville Jaguars
Las Vegas Raiders
Green was let go after failing to disclose a physical condition, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes. The 27-year-old has bounced around the league after playing out his rookie contract, playing with the Texans (2022) and Bears (2023) following his four-year Seahawks stint. Green signed with Jacksonville late last month, giving him the chance to compete for a depth role. He will now return to free agency, but without being healthy it will likely be some time before he finds another contract.
Nick Chubb‘s 2023 season ended with a major knee injury which required two surgeries to repair. The four-time Pro Bowler started training camp, as expected, on the active/PUP list. He could be activated at any point, but missed time to start the campaign would come as no surprise.
A roster projection from The Athletic’s Zac Jackson predicts Chubb will begin the season on the reserve/PUP list (subscription required). Such a designation would require at least a four-game absence as Chubb continued to recover. The 28-year-old’s Week 1 availability has been a question mark throughout the offseason, although Cleveland has remained optimistic he will be able to suit up at some point in 2024.
Chubb agreed to a pay cut this offseason, putting to rest speculation the Browns could move on. Only one year remains on his contract, however, so returning to full health and his previous form will be critical for his future. Once roster cutdowns take place later this month, a decision on placing Chubb on the PUP list or leaving the door open to a debut before Week 5 will be made.
Here are some other notes out of Cleveland:
AUGUST 16: This contract’s base value checks in at $37.5MM, per OverTheCap. At $12.5MM per year, Owusu-Koramoah becomes the NFL’s sixth-highest-paid off-ball linebacker. Of the $25MM guaranteed, $20MM is locked in at signing, with the Browns stretching full guarantees into 2026. The team guaranteed its top linebacker $6MM for 2026.
Cleveland used four void years to keep Owusu-Koramoah’s cap hits low. None of the ILB’s cap figures are higher than $8.5MM on this deal, though as of now the team would take on more than $17MM in dead money if the player is not extended again before the 2028 league year.
AUGUST 14: Already carrying big-ticket contracts at the other four positions on defense, the Browns will reward their top linebacker. Looming as an extension candidate for a bit now, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is no longer in a contract year.
The Browns came to terms with the fourth-year linebacker on a three-year deal worth up to $39MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Owusu-Koramoah secured $25MM guaranteed on this deal, one that makes him one of the league’s highest-paid off-ball LBs.
Cleveland has Myles Garrett, Dalvin Tomlinson, Denzel Ward and Grant Delpit on lucrative second contracts, with the team also finding room to re-sign Za’Darius Smith this offseason. Linebacker had housed lower-end contracts on this payroll, but after the Browns led the NFL in pass defense in Jim Schwartz‘s first season as DC, they are rewarding a three-down linebacker. The former second-round pick is now signed through the 2027 season.
Owusu-Koramoah, 24, appeared on Cleveland’s extension radar this offseason. The Notre Dame alum has emerged as the team’s central presence on its defensive second level, as various other pieces have come and gone around him in recent years.
While the “up to” phrase is notable here, Owusu-Koramoah receiving $25MM guaranteed places him fifth among off-ball LBs — behind only Roquan Smith, Tremaine Edmunds, Fred Warner and Matt Milano. The Browns have now surpassed the Eagles with 13 $10MM-per-year players (h/t Grand Central Sports Management’s Brad Spielberger), moving into the NFL lead.
Named a Pro Bowler as an alternate last season, Owusu-Koramoah played a lead role in the Browns’ defense igniting under Schwartz. Despite operating primarily as a non-rush linebacker (though, he is an effective blitzer), Owusu-Koramoah registered 20 tackles for loss. Not only did that pace all traditional linebackers by five, the total ranked fourth across the NFL. The speedy defender totaled 101 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble in a breakthrough third season. Pro Football Focus slotted Owusu-Koramoah 18th among ILBs in 2023.
This is not the best period to excel as a traditional linebacker, as the market has cooled a bit. Perennial Pro Bowler C.J. Mosley and Jaguars tackling machine Foye Oluokun took pay cuts (in exchange for increased guarantees) this offseason, leaving only six players earning more than $11MM at this position. Owusu-Koramoah becoming No. 7 would reflect the Browns’ belief he can thrive in this scheme for years.
More impressively, last year’s emergence came after a 2022 Lisfranc injury. The Browns saw promising work from JOK over his first two seasons, as injuries piled up at the position, with four forced fumbles coming from 2021-22. Losing Sione Takitaki in free agency, the Browns are aiming to pair their LB centerpiece with veteran Jordan Hicks. Wednesday morning’s agreement firmly places Owusu-Koramoah as a pillar alongside the above-referenced D-linemen and DBs in a suddenly strong defense.
12:40pm: A follow-up report from Oyefusi provides further details on the incident. The police report alleges Hall engaged in a violent confrontation with his fiancée which included pointing a handgun at the woman’s head and saying, “I will f—ing end it all. I don’t care.”
Hall’s bond has been set at $10K. He has a court hearing scheduled for September 10, two days after Cleveland’s regular season opener. The Browns and the NFL will have a short period to issue any discipline before that time; the parties could, alternatively, allow Hall’s legal process to play out before making a final decision.
10:00am: The first draft pick the Browns made this year, Mike Hall Jr. has run into legal trouble early in his Cleveland tenure. The rookie defensive lineman was arrested Tuesday morning, according to ESPN.com’s Daniel Oyefusi.
A domestic violence charge is likely. The Athletic’s Zac Jackson and Jason Lloyd reported earlier Tuesday that Hall was expected to be booked after a domestic dispute occurred Monday night. This incident is believed to have occurred in Avon, Ohio, a West Cleveland suburb.
Lacking a first-round pick for a third straight year (due to the Deshaun Watson trade), the Browns led off their draft by choosing Hall at No. 54. The Ohio State product has impressed during Browns training camp. This arrest certainly represents a key deterrent early in the early-round draftee’s career.
“We are aware of the incident involving Mike Hall Jr. last night,” a Browns statement read. “Mike and his representatives have been in touch with the appropriate authorities. We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment at the time.”
Although the exact charge(s) are not known, Hall would be subject to a suspension — even if no conviction ends up coming to pass — under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. It should not be considered a lock Hall will be banned, as facts are not yet public, and no suspension is guaranteed to occur this season.
The Browns have big plans for the in-state product, who played at nearby Streetsboro High School. The team has Dalvin Tomlinson on a four-year, $57MM deal but has not seen him practice during training camp. Tomlinson is one of a few Cleveland starters on the active/PUP list. The Browns also re-signed Shelby Harris and Maurice Hurst Jr., adding veteran D-lineman Quinton Jefferson to the mix as well. Through a long-term lens, however, Hall joins Tomlinson as centerpiece DTs in Jim Schwartz’s defense. The Browns will wait on more information coming out about their top 2024 prospect.
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Denver Broncos
Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Los Angeles Chargers
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
New York Jets
Pittsburgh Steelers
San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hernia surgery forced Tampa to the Ravens’ active/PUP list, but the fourth-round pick is ready to return. Needing a double hernia operation after minicamp (per The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec), Tampa is unlikely to be ready for practice until at least next week. By avoiding a move to the reserve/PUP list, Tampa is no longer at risk of missing Baltimore’s first four games.
A rookie UDFA, Murphy went down with an MCL injury, per NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe. The Dolphins signed Brown, a four-year Giants special-teamer and backup presence, in April. While the Dolphins continue to deal with linebacker injuries, they did bring Jaelan Phillips off the PUP list today.
Fromm spent most of the past two seasons with the Commanders, but the team — as it transitions to a new regime — cut the former Georgia passer in May. He joins a Lions team that still rosters Nate Sudfeld along with Jared Goff and Hendon Hooker.
AUGUST 12: While Watson will not take part in Cleveland’s second preseason contest, he will make his 2024 debut one week later. Stefanski said on Monday (via Cabot) the Browns plan to play Watson in their exhibition finale against the Seahawks. Making it through that contest healthy would set the stage for a critical regular season slate.
AUGUST 11: Deshaun Watson has hit another checkpoint in his recovery process. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Sunday the team’s franchise quarterback has been cleared for full contact. 
Watson was limited to just six games last season due to a lingering shoulder injury. After being shut down for the campaign – the second of his fully guaranteed, $230MM contract – his attention turned to rehab. That process has gone well to date, with an update from June stating he was ahead of schedule.
Now, Watson will continue his preparation for the 2024 season during this week’s joint practices with the Vikings. Stefanski confirmed the three-time Pro Bowler will not play in Cleveland’s second preseason contest, as was the case this past weekend (by which time, as Stefanski clarified via Cleveland.com’s Mary KayCabot, Watson had received clearance). The 28-year-old will, however, receive the “vast majority” of first-team reps over the coming days.
The Browns dealt with a slew of injuries at several offensive positions last season, and the team relied on Joe Flacco at quarterback down the stretch and in the postseason. Flacco departed in free agency and Cleveland has brought in the likes of Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley in addition to returnee Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Regardless of how the rest of the depth chart shakes out, though, Watson will of course face high expectations as starter once the campaign begins.
After sitting out the first 11 weeks of the 2022 season through suspension for a personal conduct policy violation, the former Texan did not impress in his opening Cleveland starts. The Browns went 5-1 during his six appearances this past season, but his passer rating in that span (84.3) fell well short of his career average and his best Houston years. Returning to his previous form – and thus making the monster trade price the Browns paid to acquire him, in addition to the historic extension, easier to justify – would be critical for Cleveland’s chances of making a postseason run.
Unlike last offseason, the team did not adjust Watson’s contract. As a result, he is set to carry a record-breaking cap charge of $63.77MM in 2024. The pact also calls for cap hits of just under $64MM in 2025 and ’26, so remaining healthy and delivering a strong outing on Watson’s part will be critical for the team’s finances now and in the future. This latest update is another sign he is back at 100% well before Week 1.
The Browns lost some depth at center when Luke Wypler was carted off the field in the team’s preseason opener with an ankle injury that will require surgery. In order to address that issue, Cleveland has opted to bring back a familiar face, trading a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Seahawks for center Nick Harris and a 2026 seventh-round pick, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. 
The Browns drafted Wypler out of Ohio State in the sixth-round in 2023. They had been using Harris as their backup center since he was drafted in 2020. He started out behind J.C. Tretter and then was unable to take over the starting job when the Browns signed another former Seahawk in Ethan Pocic. Pocic has served as the team’s starter ever since. Pocic has had trouble staying on the field in recent years, though, missing 10 games in the last three seasons and failing to play a full season since his rookie year in 2017.
Harris hasn’t typically been the top choice to back up Cleveland’s starting interior linemen. He does have starts in every season he’s been healthy, but he’s never started more than two games. In 2022, he would’ve had plenty of opportunities to get on the field, as Hjalte Froholdt earned six starts while Harris sat on injured reserve with a knee injury that he suffered in the preseason. Then, last year, with Wypler on the roster, Harris was temporarily moved to fullback.
Harris signed with the Seahawks early into free agency and was set to compete with Olusegun Oluwatimi and Mike Novitsky for a starting center job devoid of experienced candidates. That battle seemingly came to an end when Seattle signed Connor Williams last week. With Williams the presumed new starter and Oluwatimi having the best claim at the backup job, Harris became superfluous, so it makes sense that Seattle was willing to move him.
In Cleveland, Harris will return to his previous role. With Wypler set to miss some time, Harris will take his place behind Pocic as the primary backup center. His experience filling in at guard, as well, could end up being valuable to the Browns.
Luke Wypler was carted off the field during the Browns’ preseason opener. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed on Saturday the second-year center suffered a broken ankle and he will undergo surgery as a result.
Wypler now faces a lengthy absence, something which will add further to Cleveland’s depth issues along the interior of the offensive line. Center in particular is a question mark due to injuries suffered this summer. Prior to today’s news, Brian Allen was placed on injured reserve in July as a result of a calf injury.
The former Ram signed with the Browns in free agency after being let go earlier in the offseason. Allen was set to provide his new team with veteran experience in the middle, but in the wake of his injury situation he has since been released. Ethan Pocic remains on track to hold down starting center duties, but depth behind him will now be a concern.
Nick Harris departed in free agency, leaving Wypler in place to log second-team duties at the center spot. If the latter is sidelined for an extended period, Cleveland could be forced to seek an outside depth addition before or during roster cutdowns. The team currently has just under $30MM in cap space, so a signing would be feasible from an economic standpoint.
Selected in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, Wypler made five appearances and one start as a rookie. He split his time between center and right guard during that span, allowing two pressures and no sacks in pass protection. The 23-year-old was positioned to once again see spot-start duties in the middle of the O-line in the event Pocic were to miss time, but he will now turn his attention to recovery.
In the latest online chatter, yet another rumor concerning the future of 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has come to the surface. This rumor has nothing to do with his future in San Francisco or Pittsburgh, but Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports that the wide receiver convinced the 49ers to turn down a trade offer from the Browns that would have included Amari Cooper, a second-round pick, and a fifth-round pick. 
In a moment where Cleveland doesn’t seem to be a part of the conversation, it is interesting that this information would leak, especially when it didn’t amount to anything. Cooper just posted a career high in receiving yards despite missing two games and playing nearly two thirds of the season with backup quarterbacks. Yes, he’s four years older than Aiyuk, but there’s no reason the Browns would choose to make it known that they were willing to move on from their top receiver.
Still, it’s interesting to note Cleveland was prepared to meet San Francisco’s asking price (which, according to Maiocco, includes second- and third-round selections absent any players being included) to finalize a deal. Pittsburgh has not yet been willing to go to those lengths in terms of draft capital on top of not having a comparable receiver to Cooper to offer.
NBC Sports’ Mike Florio points the finger at the 49ers, positing that San Francisco is attempting to make it seem as though Aiyuk is unreasonable and unhelpful when trying to find a solution to the situation.
There’s been speculation that the team has been fielding trade offers with possible extension opportunities in an attempt to gauge Aiyuk’s contract value for their own negotiating purposes. This way, they get a look at what other teams are willing to pay to extend Aiyuk. It also forces Aiyuk to the negotiating table with the promise of talk of what he wants — a trade in which he has input — while allowing the team to continue working towards their own interests — an extension under market value — while he’s at the table.
This is just the latest of lots of speculation and rumors surrounding this situation. It’s hard to see much relevance in the update, but the information does shine some interesting light on one of the league’s more chaotic preseason storylines.